Air-cooled v-type internal combustion engine



F N i Jun 8, 1937. I c, 5 BROWN 2,082,869

AIR-COOLED V-TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 50,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

\ JV@BY /MjMW I ATTORNEYS.

June 8, 1937. 5 BROWN 2,082,869

AIR-COOLED V-TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 30,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .52 1. i 50 g-kfil-gp INVENTOR.

Kai w aw/14f ATTORNEYS,

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES AIR-COOLED V-TYPE- INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE Charles S. Brown, Syracuse, N. Y.

Original application September 30, 1931, Serial No. 566,073. Divided andthis application September 22, 1932, Serial No. 634,415

4 Claims. (01. 123-171 This invention relates to internal combustionengines, and particularly engines in which the cylinders are arranged inbanks in V formation or to so-called V types of engine, and has for itsobject a particularly simple and efficient air cooling system for the Vtype of engine, whereby currents of air pass lengthwise of the banksbetween the same and laterally between individual cylinders and otherair currents pass lengthwise of the outer side of the banks of thecylinders,whereby the cylinders and the heads are effectively anduniformly cooled, or wherebythe uniform distribution of the air aroundthe cylinders is effected.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like charac ters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an engine embodyingthis invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on line 3-3, Figure 1. i

Figure 4 is a sectional View, partly diagram matic, on line 44, Figure3.

This invention comprises generally, a V type of air cooled engineincluding banks of cylinders arranged in V formation, heads for thecylinders, the heads and cylinders having transverse heat radiatingflanges, those being on the cylinders being preferably in a plane at aright angle to the axes of the cylinders and a casing in the form of abox surrounding the cylinders and the heads and provided with air inletsand outlets so arranged as to distribute air currents lengthwise of thebanks of cylinders between the sameand laterally between the individualcylinders and over the heads and to direct additional air currentslengthwise of the outer sides of the banks of the cylinders, and means,as a fan rotor, mounted on the crank shaft at the front end of theengine having a casing arranged to discharge 45 the air between thebanks of cylinders and along the outer sides thereof. Preferably, thecasing is formed with inlets and outlets in its front and rear walls andis substantially closed between its front and rear walls, the inletsbeing arranged in 50 alinement with the space between the banks ofcylinders and the spaces between the outer sides of the banks ofcylinders and the lateral sides of the casing and the outlets beingpreferably arranged in line with the banks of cylinders or out of linewith the spaces between the banks so that the air is compelled to takethe paths outlined; that is, between the banks of cylinders andlaterally between the individual cylinders and over the heads andlengthwise of the outer sides ofthe cylinders.

l designates the cylinders which are arranged in V formation, orarranged in two banks A, B, the cylinders being mounted on a commoncrank case 2 in which the crank shaft 3 is located.

4 designates the heads of the cylinders. These heads are shown as tiltedor cooked inwardly toward the interior of the V formation or to standupright with their axes insubstantial vertical line relative to theinclined axes of the cylinders, so that the over-all width of the entireV formation is decreased compared with that of other over head valveengines where the heads are mounted squarely on the cylinder, or withtheir axes in line with the inclined axes of the cylinders.

In the engine here illustrated, the valve mechanism is of the overheadtype and. the head 4 is provided with intake and exhaust passages 5 and6' which extend respectively toward the inner and outer side of thecylinders, that is, the intake passage extends toward the interior ofthe V formation-and the exhaust passage 6 extends toward theoutersideofzthe V formation. These passages open through the top of thehead and communicate respectively with the intake and exhaust manifoldsI and B mounted on the tops of the heads and extending lengthwise of thebanks of cylinders. The valves are the usual mushroom or poppet type.The manifolds l, 8, are located high enough above the cylinders topermit cross currents of air over the cylinder heads and between thecylinders.

"Ill designates one of the intake valves. The exhaust valve is similarto the intake. The intake and exhaust valves are alike in constructionand each has a stem [3 extending upwardly through a valve guide in thehead, between the manifolds I and 8. The passages 5 and 6 open throughports as M. into a compression chamber I6 formed in each head. Thesechambers are deeper on their outer sides, or the sides toward the outerwalls of the banks of cylinders, and are here shown as in the form of atruncated cylinder. 7 As the end edges of the cylinders are normal to,or at a right angle to, the axes of the cylinders, the compressionchambers l6 are tilted or cooked relatively to the bore of the cylinder.The spark plug ll extends through the outer or deeper wall of thecompression chambers l6.

The location of the spark plug in the longer side of the truncatedcombustion chamber 10- cates the terminals of the plug as near aspossible to the center of the combustion chamber, this lessening thetendency to knock and permitting higher compression than in the usualtype of 5 overhead valve chamber where the terminals are not located asnear to the center of the combustion space.

The cylinders and heads are provided with heat radiating fins whichpreferably extend transversely, the fins IS on the cylinders beinginclined,.

or at a right angle to the axes of the cylinders, and the fins I9 on thecylinder head being horizontal. Owing to the cocked arrangement of theheads, the outer faces of the heads, or the planes of the outer edges ofthe fins IS on the head are located on the inner sides of the planesparallel to the axes of the cylinders and tangent to the outer edges ofthe fins I9 of the cylinders, so that the over-all width of the Vformation is greatly reduced compared with the overhead valve V typeengines in which, the heads are mounted squarely on the cylinders. Thelocation of the intake and exhaust manifolds, on the tops of thecylinders, also contributes to reducing the over-all width of the Vformation, and does not interfere with. the air passing over thecylinder heads- Preferably, the wall of, the intake passages isunprovided with. heat radiating, fins.

The valve operating mechanism may be of any suitable type. 21;designates rocker arms pivotally mounted at 22 between their ends on arocker arm support 23, one end of each rocker arm coacting with a, valvestem, and'the other end of'the rocker armcoacting with a lift rod24,.located between the banks of cylinders; and coacting with a lifter25 which in turn coacts with the cam 26 on the cam shaft of the engine,The lifter rod 24 is enclosed in a suitable tube 21. This tube merelyserves to. enclose the lift rod and does not materially support therocker arm. support 23. There is a rocker arm for each valve stem, andthe rocker arms for the valves of each cylinder are arranged on the samesupport and on' axially alined studs or pivots 22'.

The rocker arm support: 23.- is' provided with a base flange 30 mountedon the top of the head andsecured thereto as by bolts 3|, and the partof the support which carries the lugs or bearings 32 for the pivots: 22extends laterally inwardly relatively to the V formation over the intakemanifold Iv and is spaced apartfrom the top of the'head and the intakemanifold.

The overhanging portions of the supports are braced or supported bymeans connecting each rocker arm support 23' of one bank of cylinderswith the other bank ofcylinders. This means is here shown as tie-rods33; each of which is connected at 34 to one rocker arm support 23 andextends across the space between the banks of cylinders and is connectedat 35- to the other bank. These tie-rods are arranged in pairs andinclined relatively to each other so that they cross, or are arranged inX formation.

Owing to the manner of supporting the rocker armsupports, theclearancestin the valve mechanism between the rocker arms and. the valvestems, and: the rocker arms and the lift rods, are maintained: constantat all temperatures of the engine. It will be understood that the enginecylinders elongate as they become heated, and some compensating means isdesirable to maintain-a predetermined clearance and eflicient valveoperation without tappet noise.

Owing to the mounting or bracing 33 of the overhanging portions of therocker arm supports 23, the shifting of the rocker arm pivots 22 and therocker arms 2i during cylinder elongation is for the most parthorizontal rather than vertical, as in engines where the heads aremounted squarely on the cylinders, and the rocker arms 2| are maintainedin proper relation to the valve stems l3 and lifter rods 24 at allengine temperatures and under all conditions. Each of the supports 23 isprovided with a suitable removable .cap 39 held in position by a nut 40threading on a stud 4! extending upwardly through the cap from therocker arm support 23. 42 is a carburetor having branches 43communicating with both intake manifolds I.

The subject matter thus far described specifically forms no part of thisinvention but constitutes the subject matter of my pending applicationSer. No. 566,073, filed September 30, 1931, of which this is a division.

This invention relates to a casing or jacket for the banks of cylindersby which the cooling air currents are passed between the banks ofcylinders and between the individual cylinders and over the headsthereof and additional air currents passed lengthwise of the cylindersbetween the outer sides of the banks and the lateral walls of'thecasing, so that all portions of the individual cylinders and the headsare wiped or washed by the cooling air currents and the air currentsdistributed uniformly. The casing comprises, generally, side walls 50, arear wall 5|, top wall 52 between the banks of cylinders and below thecarburetor rocker arm support and also bottom wall 54 at the lower edgesof the side wall 50 so that the casing is in the general form ofa boxand is formed with inlets and outlets at its front and rear ends soarranged that the air currents pass between the banks of cylinderslengthwise between the individual cylinders laterally and over the headsand lengthwise of the outer sides of the cylinders. The casing betweenits front and rear walls is preferably unpro-vided with outlets and theinlets and outlets are arranged out of alinement or so arranged relativeto each other that the air currents can not pass straight through thecasing but are distributed in the paths before mentioned, preferably,the air currents are created by the rotor of a fan mounted on' the frontend of the crank shaft 3' in the casing which discharges into aplurality of inlets for the housing.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the casing is providedwith three inlets 58, 59, or the fan housing with three outlets arrangedrespectively in line with the space between the banks of the cylindersand the spaces between the outer sides of the banks and lateral walls 50of the casing, while the outlets 60 are located in line with thecylinders, or out of line with the spaces between the banks ofcylinders. Portions of outlets 60 are also as seen in Figure 4 in linewith the spaces between the banks and the lateral walls 59 of thecasing.

55 is a fan rotor actuated by the crank shaft 5 and preferably mountedon the front end thereof. 56 is a fan housing having outlet branches 5'!having openings 58 therein, which communicate with the casing of theengine and provide air inlets for the casing near the opposite sidewalls 59, or to the outer sides of the banks of cylinders. The fanhousing also has outlets 59 which communicate with the spaces betweenthe banks of cylinders beneath the top wall 52 and provide air inletsfor the casing.

Preferably, the rear wall 5| has air outlets 60 behind the rearcylinders and out of line with passages 59 and extending laterallyoutwardly to in line with openings 58 and the spaces between the sidewalls 5!] and the outer sides of the banks of cylinders. The object,however, of the back wall is to direct the outflow of air from betweenthe bank of cylinders sufliciently around the cylinders into the outerpaths along the walls 50. The air which passes through the outlets 59into the space between the banks of cylinders is thus caused to passbetween the cylinders and join the air currents passing to the outersides of the cylinders along the side walls5il. The outlets 6!] are ofat least the area of the combined areas of the fan outlets 58 and 59 andare preferably still larger to compensate for the expansion of the airdue to heating in its passage around the cylinders.

6| is a partition between the outlets 58 and 59 to keep the main blastof air from striking the first cylinders.

To further facilitate the cooling of the cylinders, the cylinders arearranged in pairs as C and D, and the space between the cylinders ofeach pair is less than the space between the pair of cylinders. Thisarrangement is due primarily to the fact that a three bearing crankshaft is used. The relatively cool intake valves are so located as to beadjacent the narrower spaces while the hot exhaust valves are locatedadjacent the wider spaces in order to be swept to a greater extent bythe air currents passing from between the banks of cylinders to theouter sides of the banks of cylinders, also to permit larger finssurrounding the exhaust valve passages.

As the intake passages are cooled by the relatively cool incoming of gasor vapor. no cooling fins are provided for the intake ports or passages,and hence less space is required for air circulation between thecylinders around the intake valves. The exhaust valves are located overthe engine center main bearings and at the ends of the pairs where thereis ample room to fin the exhaust valve passages and space for aircurrents; The intake ports, which are not ribbed and do not require asmuch cooling air, are located in the confined spaces.

What I claim is:

1. In an air-cooled, V-type, internal combustion engine, banks ofcylinders having heat radiating flanges, a casing surrounding thecylinders in the form of a box having side walls spaced apart from theouter sides of the banks of cylinders, rear and top walls, the casinghaving inlet and outlet openings only at its front and rear endsrespectively, a fan rotor actuated by the engine and having a casingformed with outlets arranged to discharge air through the inlets of theengine casing between the banks of cylinders intake and exhaust passagesand valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifoldscommunicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders andthe heads thereof and being in the form of a box enclosing the banks ofcylinders and their heads and having air outlets in its rear wall andbeing substantially closed between its front and rear walls, and a fanincluding a rotor actuated by the engine and having a casing formed withan intermediate outlet communicating with the front end of the spacebetween the banks of cylinders and side outlets for discharging airaround the outer sides of the banks of cylinders.

3. In an air-cooled, V-type, of internal combustion engine, banks ofcylinders having heat radiating flanges, heads for the cylinders havingheat radiating flanges, the heads being formed with intake and exhaustpassages, and valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifoldscommunicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders andthe heads thereof, having side walls spaced apart from the outer sidesof the banks of cylinders, rear and top walls, the casing having an airoutlet opening at its rear end, a fan actuated by the engine and havinga casing formed with an intermediate outlet communicating with the frontend of the space between the banks of cylinders and side outlets fordischarging air around the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, theoutlet passages for the fan casing being located substantially in linewith the spaces between the banks of cylinders and with the spacesbetween the outer sides of the banks and the side walls of the casingand the outlet passages for the casing around the cylinders, beinglocated in line with the banks of cylinders and out of line with saidspaces between the banks and between the outer sides of the banks andthe side walls of the engine casing, all whereby the air passing betweenthe banks of cylinders passes around and between the cylinders and overthe cylinder heads and joins the air current passing along the outersides of the cylinders.

4. In an air-cooled, V-type, of internal combustion engine, banks ofcylinders having heat radiating flanges, heads for the cylinders havingheat radiating flanges, the heads being formed with intake and exhaustpassages, and valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifoldscommunicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders andthe heads thereof, having side walls spaced apart from the outer sidesof the cylinders, rear and top walls, the casing having outlet openingsat its rear wall toward the outer side walls and extending in line withthe spaces between the side walls of the casing and the outer sides ofthe cylinders of the banks, a fan actuated by the engine and having acasing at the front of the engine formed with an intermediate outletcommunicating with the space between the banks of cylinders and sideoutlets discharging into the spaces between the side walls of the casingand the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, all whereby the airpassing through the space between the banks of cylinders is distributedbetween and around the cylinders of the banks and joins the air currentspassing along the outer sides of the cylinders and out through theoutlets in the rear wall of the casing.

CHARLES S. BROWN.

